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James Tiberius Kirk frowned--something he felt like doing constantly, and yet tried his best to never give in to. The children--even if they sometimes seemed to be as mature and smart as a fully grown adult, they were still children--didn't need to see him showing any outward sign of distress. Or emotion at all, really, considering that they were Vulcan. But Jim was human, and his companions knew this as well. Blanking his emotions outwardly only made the Vulcans concerned for him--worried that he was unhealthily suppressing himself for their comfort. After being assured numerous times that 'abstaining from showing emotion is highly illogical, as he is human and emotion is not only tolerated but encouraged.
The children always worried about him, even if 'Vulcans do not worry.' When he passed on his share of rations for the day, he was told "Humans--especially one of your age of 19--require more sustenance than any Vulcan. The fact that we are younger than you, and you thus perceive us to be 'children' does not mean that you should turn down food you need in the belief that as 'innocents' we should receive primarily receive the victuals we have garnered.""Don't go using big words on me, I might break," was Jim's teasing reply to the solemn-eyed 17-year-old Vulcan--the elected spokesmen whenever this argument came up--Harauk.
"I am fully aware that you possess extremely high intellect--that challenging the minds of even the smartest Vulcan--therefore, I am certain that the so-called 'big words' you declared I 'used on you' will not cause you any harm. However, if you do not intake the vital calories you need because of a false belief that we need it more than you, harm will befall you." After a moment of silence in which Jim gave no reply, Harauk continued. "Your attempt to divert me was… pitiful."
At the end of that, Jim conceded to eat a quarter of the ration bar he had earlier entirely refused. Some days, Jim let them get the better of him, others, he absolutely refused to eat, yet demanded that each of them do so. He was infuriatingly stubborn.
They were likely the last of the Tarsus IV colonists. When a fungus destroys the food supply, Governor Kodos systematically divides the eight thousand colonists into two groups of four thousand. The group that will survive. And the group that will be killed. The hope is that with half the original population dead, the rest will be able to survive off of any remaining food. The two groups are decided based on eugenics. Most stay in their homes, and pray that they are on the good list. Jim, however, knows which list he will be on. His many allergies makes him unfavorable, and he goes to his mother and brother and tells them this. They plead with him to stay, and he asks that they run with him. In the end, they decline, and he leaves alone in the darkness of night.
The 12 Vulcan children with Jim were all on the same list as he was. It wasn't any fault on their part, in fact, Jim's understanding of the situation was that each of the twelve was especially smart. They vaguely mentioned that they were set to specialize one each in the 12 different Colleges of the Vulcan Science Academy, and were on Tarsus IV to utilize the brand new facilities, the relative peace and quiet, and show support to the Federation.
The two separate groups were based on eugenics, but they were based on human eugenics alone. Any other race was to be sentenced to death. Kodos especially believed that the Vulcans were dangerous. At three times the strength of an average human, and incredible mental abilities, he feared mutiny and overtaking. With these thoughts in mind, Kodos sent out soldiers in the dead of night to kill all the Vulcans residing in the building that functioned both as a school and living quarters for the twelve Vulcan children and their six teachers. Unarmed, and just woken from sleep, the adults didn't stand a chance, and the teachers were taken down quickly in the first room just down the hall to where the children still slept, unaware of what had just happened due to heavily soundproofed walls.
This happened to be the same night that Jim left his house, and seeing the group of soldiers, ready to kill, and heading towards of school of all places, he followed. Horrified, he saw the men clash with the Vulcans, who against all odds managed to take down 6 of the 10 soldiers before being overwhelmed by phasers showing no mercy, and set to kill. There were children here, Vulcans, yes, but children nonetheless. Jim was not going to stand by while a second slaughter took place, he ran through the hall as the four remaining soldiers regrouped, believing they had all the time in the world. Checking every room, he finally came across the one where all the students slept--or, where they had been sleeping because they had all woken up upon sensing an unfamiliar presence in their room. 12 curious pairs of eyes stared at him.
He had to explain, and fast. "My name is James Kirk, a group of soldiers just killed your teachers, they are coming for you now, please--just trust me--please get the farthest away you can from the door and lay down, quietly." Only the steady breathing of the Vulcans and the ragged breathing of the Human could be heard. "Please tell me you speak Standard," Jim pleaded, now nervous beyond belief. "Okay, uhm, how does….. Tehvar…. Be'…. I aitlun tor gol'nev." (Danger…. Near…. I want to help) Jim stuttered out.
"We understand Standard," a Vulcan near him finally spoke up. "But you gave a commendable effort to speak our given language."
"Oh," Jim breathed, still in an adrenaline rush.
"We shall trust you," another Vulcan voiced, causing him to exhale in relief, not even realizing he had been holding his breath awaiting the verdict. The Vulcans moved to the far end of the room, laying down. Jim pulled one of the knives he had nicked from the kitchen before he had run, from his belt and stood by the closed door, angled so that he would be out of the direct line of sight even when the door opened.
After what felt like interminable time standing there--it could have been hours, or minutes, he couldn't tell you, though he was sure any of the children could, little timers and clocks that they were--the door was carelessly thrown open. Jim had time to wonder that the remaining soldiers seemed to be unable to learn before he sprung into action. The first soldier took a step to walk in the room and received a knife to the neck before he was even more than halfway into the room. Jim knew he had to take down the remaining three quick if he was to get them all in time. Nimbly, with his head ducked--and sure enough, a shot was fired where his head would have been had he not been crouched over--he went on the offensive, pushing out of the doorway, and got the second man, slashing his throat over, and spraying blood everywhere in the process. The third man in line had a gun pointed at Jim, and he quickly rolled to his right, a sickly bolt of light striking where he had been moments before. That was one phaser out of commission for about 4 seconds while it recharges for another go he thought, and one left with a shot ready. He would have to be quick. In a crouched position he lunged forward towards the man still with a ready phaser. He grappled for it, essentially wrestling with a man that was much taller than he was--Jim was pretty short. Finally, the phaser was knocked away as Jim twisted the bigger man's wrist, and a stab of his knife, still in hand, took him down. One man left, with a phaser ready to fire, pointed straight at him. "Tun-bosh," (Careful) one of the children who had by now all crowded by the doorway, rushing to see if they could help called out. This distracted the soldier, and that moment was all that Jim needed to throw his knife, sending it spinning, almost in slow motion, towards the soldier's heart, he went down fast. The entire encounter was over in about a minute--though Jim couldn't tell, the Vulcans certainly could, down to decimals if asked of them. Little Vulcan timers and clocks that they were.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jim stared at the Vulcan children, and they stared back at him. "I believe that it would be prudent if we vacated the premises immediately," one of them finally spoke up."Yeah." Jim agreed, a bit breathless from the struggle.The Vulcan that had earlier spoken seemed to shift slightly in what might have been perceived as uncertainty- that is, if Vulcan were prone to showing such things. "Will you… be accompanying us?""Of course!" Jim replied scandalized, he had no intentions of leaving the children.Unknown to Jim, the Vulcans felt stirrings of relief. They did not want the blue-eyed human who had so suddenly and bravely saved them to leave."We will need to gather a few things before we flee," he was informed before the students efficiently went back into the room to gather whatever they felt might aid them. After collecting the items into their respective bags they returned to the hall, silently watching him as he stood opposite of them, studying their impromptu hero."Would it be prudent for us to take what food is left in the residence?" Who knew how they would fare food-wise, on the run as they would be."Uh- yes, I grabbed what I could before I left my home, but it definitely is not going to be enough for all of us…. And I'll be damned if I leave anything here for Kodos," Jim said decisively.Jim was led to the kitchen area where the food was then deposited into their bags. "Okay… My plan just consisted of moving around, and avoiding being killed until relief ships come, which they should, soon, I hope. But now…" Jim trailed off."Now your plan is no longer feasible as with so many children, and Vulcans, nonetheless, staying undercover would not be possible," one of the Vulcans finished for him, unflinchingly."Rigghhtt." Jim said sheepishly. There had to be a reason all the Vulcans were on the kill list, and with pointed ears, green skin, and distinctive hair cut, they would be unable to avoid detection."Perhaps it would be logical for you to continue with your plan, but to go without us." All of the other children looked at the one who had spoken, it might have been Jim's imagination, but they seemed agitated at the suggestion."And where would that leave you?" Jim questioned suspiciously."We are very close to a desert area, so close, in fact, that if we leave now we shall make it there before sunrise.""So you plan to go traipsing in the desert alone," Jim surmised bluntly. "Not a chance""It is only logical tha-""Not a chance you're going alone, I'm coming with you." It would be near impossible for Jim to miss the tension leaving them, but if he noticed he made no remark."That would be… acceptable," Jim beamed. "Though not necessarily permissible" The Vulcan quickly tacked on, lest the human think they would be unable to make it without him. The comment did nothing to diminish the striking smile."What are we waiting for?" Jim asked impatiently.They set off, stopping only twice, both on Jim's request. Once, at a grocery store--where the food had lately been racked up to an astonishing unreasonable price--and another time at a barrack that housed Kudos' Soldiers. Thankfully, both places were devoid of any life, and Jim skillfully broke in. He had children to take care of now, and he was already very attached. He would do anything for his little pointy-eared, solemn-eyed kids, and nothing was above him. So despite the protests against his unlawful behavior, he stole anything he thought might be useful to them, and all the non-perishable food he could. The items were stuffed in the kid's bags, as well as his, until they were bulging. Thankfully, and sensibly, none of them had packed to many things, and there was plenty of room left to carry their stolen foods.Setting a brisk pace, so as to keep good time, they went off. They walked the entire night, save one moment. A small argument took place. Vulcans, being Vulcans, were very logical, they had nothing to argue about amongst themselves, but they were in the company of a highly illogical human. Suffice to say, as a dispute of twelve against one, Jim did not win."You are laboring unnecessarily," Selar spoke up. They had all briefly given him their names earlier as they walked.Jim looked behind him, "Huh?" he inelegantly questioned."You carry four bags on your shoulders, while most of us have only two or three," he patiently explained."I'm older than you all though, I'm 20, you're all still all 18 or 19, right?" Jim reasoned."While that is true, all of us are stronger than you, and could carry your burden much more easily, you should not push yourself," Nesheh reasoned.Jim threw back an indignant look, wondering if he should be insulted, but having no counterargument, he gave no response.Torin spoke up now, "If you do not give us your bags, I will pick you up and carry you the rest of the way, bags and all."Jim snorted, thinking that Torin either wouldn't go through with his threat or was fibbing his strength. Of course, he vaguely knew that Vulcans were stronger than humans, but for a teenager to carry him, in addition to four extremely heavy bags seemed quite improbable. He continued to walk on, not heeding Torin's words. That is, until he felt an arm on the back of his knees, pushing forwards so that his legs gave out. Calmly, Torin held Jim in a bridal position, his own bags gone as he had passed them on to the others. Jim sputtered. "What do you think you're doing," he asked incredulously.The Vulcan did not deem the answer worthy of a reply, he had told the foolish human what would happen, after all. Besides, he did not approve of the human trekking such a long distance after what must have been an overwhelming experience- fighting fully trained soldiers that were quite prepared to kill him, on the behalf of strangers. Beseechingly, Jim looked at the Vulcans behind them, illogically hoping that one of them would be on his side and would tell Torin how idiotic this was. " 'Lona! Tell Torin this is irrational!" he pleaded."You are being irrational. I am sure that if you concede to allow us to carry your bags he shall allow you to walk," was her flippant reply."Perhaps," Torin said nonchalantly. He was not quite sure, he was of the opinion that the human would fare better if he simply rested.Stubbornly, Jim pouted. "I'll let you guys carry one of them.""Your attempts at negotiating will prove fruitless," he was informed by an emotionless (smug) Vulcan teenager.Jim held out for only a minute after that. He couldn't take it, he would walk on his own damn feet, he wasn't some infant. "Fine," he gritted out."Hmm," Torin hummed, walking for a moment longer, before putting Jim down. Expectantly, he held his hand out, eyebrow raised, awaiting the bags, which were eventually grudgingly handed over.The Vulcans looked too self-satisfied for their own good, was all that Jim could think, before he turned forward again, leading them in their march deep into the desert.A Vulcan--Sodok? Jim thought (they all looked pretty similar, okay? It was hard to keep track, jeez)--finally mentioned that they had 'approximately .462 hours before the sky begins to lighten' and that 'we are already well into the desert, but as there is no civilization on the other side of the desert, it would be sensible to continue onwards.'Finally, the sun began to rise. Without wasting time, they emptied and sorted the bags, taking stock of what they had. Taking out blanket-like material from where they had been compressed in air-tight bags, they wasted no time in smartly setting up shelter. Soon the sun would be devastating, and they had no need to be out and about when that happened.For about 6 months they lived in the desert. Jim learned about the Vulcan children, and they learned about him. None of them ever spoke of their families or their lives before their current horrible situation, but the Vulcans learned that loved space, and he learned that the little pins they had on their shirts must have some sentimental value to them. They were very protective of the little pins, and never let him hold them to get a good look, he did find out that they were the IDIC sign, however, and that that meant Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. He taught them everything he could think of that they might not know. Which, to the surprise of the Vulcans, was quite a bit. After a while, his knowledge ceased to shock them, Jim was incredibly intelligent, and a quick learner, to their delight. They took advantage of this fact, piling all of their knowledge into his brain. As they had little they needed to do, all alone in the desert as they were, they had plenty of time to do so. Soon, Jim was more fluent in Vulcan and all the dialects than any outsider has ever been, and perhaps even more so than some full Vulcans. Jim also contributed his language skills, and they learned how to speak Andorian, as they were part of the federation and near Vulcan. Jim told them of Earth's history, and human illogic's, and in turn learned what seemed like everything there was to know of Vulcan's culture.Some days were harder than others, often Jim had nightmares, and couldn't take any of the sedatives they had nicked due to his allergies. Or he could not bear to eat, because he didn't know when they would be rescued if they ever would be.With the use of their solar-charging pads, Jim taught them to hack into the databases, and with nothing to bother them, they continued to pursue their separate studies.After six months of this, and running so dangerously low on food that they started to consider going back to the city, Jim yelled "AHA!" startling the children."What is it, Jim? I suspect that you did not scream merely to surprise us," Lerius said, with a perfectly straight face, Jim gave a little grin, he had taught them well, and it was worth it, as the subtleness of sarcasm had not been lost on them."I've been working on setting this up to boost a signal, I think I've finally got it," he explained triumphantly."I suspected," Sklar's eyes glimmered with restrained hope.No relief after six months, in all likelihood, they were the last survivors, and anyone left had died of starvation, it was a terrible thought, but was irrefutable.A week passed.Finally.Jim jumped up in joy, happiness practically pouring from him, his kids would be rescued, they would be fine, they would be safe, they would live. Showing more restraint than the human, the Vulcans stood slowly, marveling at the sight. A Vulcan Karekh-class starship. The explorer was recognizable by the lack of weapons, and could belong to no other than the Vulcans, as that particular trait made it unpopular among other races. It likely was sent in reaction of the distress signal that Jim sent out due to its high speeds.They waited for maybe an hour--Jim couldn't tell you exactly, though anyone on the ship or with him on the planet certainly could, timers and clocks as they were--presumably while the crew searched the planet for signs of life, analyzed the planets situation, and then were briefed.Eventually, the particles characteristic of transporting via beam appeared a scant 5 meters from their little camp. Sure enough, 3 Vulcans materialized, they took stock of their surroundings before walking up to the awaiting group. They had what Jim felt was like a really intense staring content before the Vulcan wearing a Captains uniform spoke up, "My name is Syvak. Are you the individuals who sent the distress signal approximately seven days ago?""Yes," Jim confirmed. Everything felt a bit surreal."We have scanned the surface, there is no other humanoid life," a younger Vulcan, maybe only a few years older than Jim himself clinically informed them."How--" The third man began to speak, likely to question them.However, he was swiftly interrupted by Harauk, "The human suffers from severe malnutrition, and is in need of sustenance, perhaps we could board your vessel, and he can receive care. We can then relay to you the happening of the unfortunate events that took place.""Unfortunate…?" The captain questions. It is, of course, unusual for Vulcans to use such words. Kaiidth, after all, what is, is."Unfortunate," Lerius firmly repeated, beyond ready to leave. The fact that Jim did not protest needing care was telling, he seemed a little out of it…. extremely out of it, she amended.Seeming to accept this as an answer the Captain--Syvak--pulled out a communicator, requesting the ship's crew to, "Beam up all life-forces at our location."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

This is how I calculated the group being on Tarsus for 6months: The average man can lift 155 pounds( http://www.livestrong.com/article/380767-how-much-weight-can-the-average-man-lift/). Vulcans are three times as strong as the average human. Multiplied 3 times 155, is how much weight they can carry- the number was 465. And there is twelve of them, so multiply by twelve and you get 5580, that's how much all the Vulcans can carry in total. They are carrying their packs easily, so what they have is likely only a seventh of what they actually can carry, so I divide by 7, I get 797. Not everything they are carrying is food, we already covered that, so I just say that three fourths of it isn't actually food- I have no idea- and divide by 4, I have 199. I read that you could get your food to be like 1.5 pounds per day (https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/59170/), but Vulcans probably need less food, and they are all going to be on strict rations, so figured a number like 1 would be more likely. I divide by 1, and I still have 199, they have approximately 199 day, or about 6months of food. That's how I calculated how long they are going to be on Tarsus, my calculations feel like bs, but let me know what you guys think.
Here are each of the Vulcan's names, their meanings, and what Vulcan Academy College they are set to specialize in. I got the names here -> (https://kirshara.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/a-list-of-vulcan-names/) and the colleges here -> (https://kirshara.wordpress.com/category/traditions/). If I put an * after their name, it's a girl.
Harauk
“amazing life”
College of Medicine and Life SciencesLerius
* “bearer of attraction”
College of ChemistryLorian*
“bearer of information”
College of Information TechnologyNesheh
“one who deduces”
College of MathematicsN’Vea *
“seed which is life”
College of Agriculture’Lona *
“lady of great thought
College of ThoughtZebed
“behind-eye;” one who can see into the past or has “eyes” on the back of his head
College of Historical StudiesTorin
“doer/ maker”
College of Engineering and Applied ScienceSodok
“from the honorable cave”
College of GeophysicsSorel
“star cache”
College of XenologySklar
“message system specialist”
College of Computer ScienceSelar
“from the free desert wind”
College of PhysicsI got my information of the Starship from here-> (http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Karekh_class) I picked this one because it was in commission in the 23 century, coincidentally, when Spock lived, what a coincident, don't you guys think?
Here is Syvak, in case you were wondering -> (http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Syvak)

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

A quiet, almost indiscernible humming filled the air. Brilliant eyes, as blue as the clearest ocean, snapped open. Fast. There was no slow fluttering, and a gradual awareness of being awake that was characteristic of most humans.
"Fascinating," the young Vulcan that had beamed down along with his father and the captain of the starship intoned.
At his declaration, the other few Vulcans in the room looked up from where they had been otherwise focused on their PADDS. Immediately, they zoned in on the human that had so abruptly awoken, and now lay, propped up on his elbows, looking around at the other inhabitants of the oddly bright and sterile room he found himself in.
"Where-" Jim began to ask, before cutting himself off, not recognizing the croaking noise that was his voice.
Harauk immediately stood, handing Jim some water, before answering the unasked question, "We are aboard Captain Syvak's ship, pudor-tor veh, you are in the medical bay as you were rendered unconscious moments before we were transported aboard the vessel."
"…honored one?" Jim asked, confused.
"Indeed," said the young, and still unnamed Vulcan by his bedside, who, for all intents and purposes, must have been staring unwaveringly at him -he had to have been, to have instantly noticed him waking up.
Before Jim had a chance to say anything in response, Lorian latched onto something the unknown Vulcan had earlier remarked. "Spock, I request to know what you thought 'Fascinating' moments ago."
"I was commenting upon the honored-one's abrupt awakening. He seemed to come into awareness immediately. I was under the impression that it was more normal for the process to be more… gradual, for humans," Spock replied.
If Vulcans snorted, Jim was certain that both Lorian and Harauk would have. As it was, they merely exchanged a glance, before Harauk gave counsel. "Never expect the honored-one to be normal, he is and always shall be far from a typical and average being."
"What's with this 'honored-one' business?" Jim muttered, not content with being talked over any longer.
"It is your title-- "Spock began, only to be cut off by Lorian.
"You did, after all, save us, with no obligation to do so."
"Well, of course, I couldn't just leave you guys all alone" Jim mumbled quietly, a slight blush dusting his cheeks.
"Nonetheless, it was honorable, and thus you have received your title - pudor-tor veh," Harauk gave a slight twitch, trying not to show visibly how difficult he found it to restrain himself. His oblivious human could be excessively modest, it was most illogical.
"But I mean, half a year together, and you won't even call me by my name?" Jim scoffed in mock outrage, trying to cover up his embarrassment.
"If you give your permission, and state your preference of your given name rather than the title, I am certain tha-"
"Consider Permission given, to all my little Vulcan kids, and you too, Spock," Jim interrupted. After a few moments of silence- moments that, while comfortable for the Vulcans, certainly weren't for Jim--Jim had to break it, shattering the stillness with his bright and active persona. "So… Who was that other Vulcan who went planetside earlier?""My father, Sarek. He is an Earth Ambassador," Spock responded easily."Before I depart to locate a healer, Jim, I shall inform you that none of the 'little Vulcan kids' you spoke of, me included, are in fact 'kids' or 'little'- comparatively to you, in any case," Harauk snarked, before standing from where he had been sitting next to Jim's biobed, to go find a healer.
"Yeah yeah, I know you're all taller and heavier than I am, but your still my kids, even if none of you are actually kids anymore…." Jim trailed off, forgetting what his argument had even consisted of. "But, hey wait!" he called, seeing that Harauk had merely kept walking towards the door.
"Yes, Jim" Harauk asked - and no, there was no exasperation in his voice, that was your imagination.
"I don't need a healer! I'm perfectly fi-" Jim began his protest, ready to fight with words.
"You will not argue with me." Harauk asserted seriously. "I care not for your objections. I will return with a healer, and you will subject yourself to a very thorough examination, until I am satisfied. Complaints will get you nowhere, so cease and desist!" If a Vulcan ever raised their voice, it would sure as heck sound like this. Harauk took a breath and let it out before continuing, much calmer, "On the planet, you may have gotten away with neglecting yourself. Never again, Jim." With those parting words, he promptly turned on heel, the doors closing exceptionally loud in the room that was now dead silent."Neglect" Spock questioned silkily, an odd gleam in his eye."No!" Jim denied rapidly - a sure sign of untruthfulness.
"Do not lie." Lorian reprimanded the older human, before facing Spock, "He often disregarded his own health, so that he could attend to ours."
"How so?" Spock inquired curiously, utterly fascinated with the stunning human he was presented with.
"There were many cases over the duration of the half-year." Lorian informed Spock.
"What was the earliest occurrence, then?"
"You are aware of the events leading to the savensu (teachers) death?"
"I am."
"As is to be expected, us twelve ik poprah ek' fai-tukh (who receive all knowledge) faced distress over the entire situation. The remedy is, of course, deep meditation. We had…. slight difficulties. Significant trauma can cause such. To re-order our states of mind, an anchor was required. Jim was ours. We took turns, youngest to oldest, and held his wrist, using his heartbeat to re-orientate and steady ourselves. The process took much time. It was only until later that we realized that Jim did not sleep until each of us had significantly recovered. It was even later than that revolution that we discovered it had its effects on Jim as well as us. While it was therapeutic and life-saving for us, it was terribly detrimental to Jim. As we sorted through…. our emotions… Jim weathered the brunt of the negative ones. And yet, he continued through each of us- felt and endured our pain- and at the same time, fed positivity to us, in a hopeless situation. In the middle of a desert, and - Jim is most illogical." Lorian stood suddenly, " I have something I must attend to". She left the room, and now only Spock and Jim remained. Jim buried under his blanket in discomfort.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Jim, I have--" Harauk paused from his position just inside the room, narrowing his eyes, before finishing his sentence, "located healer Senva". Before either Spock or the newly appeared Jim could respond, he continued, "Why are you two alone?"
At the sharp and uncompromising tone, Jim merely rolled his eyes. Spock, on the other hand, kept his gaze steady, meeting Harauk's. "Lorian has just left the room rather suddenly. In order to not remain alone with Jim, I would have had to immediately vacate from his presence. As his health has not yet been confirmed, I found it prudent to stay…. You need not worry, words have not yet been exchanged, and we have been in each other's vicinity for mere moments," Spock logically explained.
"What does it matter anyways?" Jim demanded, "Is Spock dangerous or ... ? I mean, am I not allowed to hang out with him alone or something?"
"Ye,." Harauk intoned candidly, "Spock is indeed dangerous, you should do well to remember the fact that any Vulcan you encounter has the potential to be dangerous. And yes, you are not allowed to 'hang out' with him, or any other Vulcan alone."
"What?!" Jim squeaked, evidently not having expected a response to the affirmative.
"He said that I am 'indee--"
"I heard what he said, Spock. I was referring to the part where he said I couldn't be alone with anyone here."
"What do you not understand about this statement?" Spock questioned, head tilting ever so slightly to the right. Jim, having spent six months isolated, and in constant contact with Vulcans understood the gesture to mean that Spock was puzzled, and trying to understand.
"I mean…. why?"
"The pudor-tor veh does not know of…"
"No, Senva, the Vulcan Council has decreed that he would not be told. Did you not receive the transmission?" Harauk cryptically replied to Senva's unasked question, leaving Jim in the dark in the process.
"I have not checked my PADDS transmissions since the one …." Senva glance over at Jim before returning his gaze to Harauk, "since the one regarding the pudor-tor veh."
"Do make sure to check it over," Spock advised. "It should not take long." Senva nodded his agreement. On his part, it was a lapse in judgment to acquaint himself with the pudor-tor veh without being fully updated on the entire situation.
"Soooo. Should I take this to assume that you guys aren't gonna tell me why I can't be alone with anyone?"
Silence.
"Great. Some mysterious and apparently secret culture thing I don't know about. And, apparently, everyone else knows…. because there was a transmission….one that I didn’t receive. I'll take another wild guess here- no one is gonna let me see the transmission, are they?" If the human's tone was sardonic, at the moment, the Vulcans didn't care to notify him of the fact.
"All of the systems have also been coded, and are closely monitored, you shall not access the transmission with your computer skills," Harauk informed him after another brief moment of silence.
"Watch me," Jim muttered under his breath, but in a silent room with Vulcans who possessed superior hearing, he was pretty sure that each of them heard what he said perfectly clear.
Senva and Spock exchange a look. Jim caught sight of them and immediately drew up to protect his dignity. "And I'll have you know, I am an excellent hacker," he informed them proudly.
"Indeed?" Spock asked eyebrow raised.
"Yeah. 'Indeed', " he parroted. The eyebrow didn't lower in the slightest, if anything, it seemed to move up impossibly higher.
______________________________________________________________________________
Only about half a minute into the impromptu 'stare-down'--any of the Vulcans present would tell you that it was approximately 36.4 seconds, timers and clocks that they were--and Harauk felt it prudent to weigh in, lest Jim attempt to 'beat' Spock in what his human assumed was likely a 'stare-down.' "I can verify that Jim is an excellent hacker. Furthermore, I hypothesis he would challenge even your skills, Spock."
"Of course, I did not mean to cause offense, pudor-tor veh" appeased Spock, his eyes still having not moved from the human.
"Didn't I already say I wanted you to call me Jim?" he asked, exasperatedly.
"It is not right," Harauk proclaimed as he not-glared at Spock.
At the same time Spock said, "Of course, Jim."
Healer Senva intervened at this time, well aware that the disagreement was mere moments from escalating into one of physical blows. "The pudor-tor veh" he paused as Jim's gaze snapped sharply over to him, "Jim…. Jim has expressed his desire to be named… Jim, and should his wishes not be obeyed?" Seeing that Harauk still did not approve, Senva did not actually await answer, and instead continued on whilst he still could. "You will either both calm down, or send someone else in so that I may examine Jim."
"Calm?" Spock queried. "I am calm."
"How could you say that?" Jim gasped in mock scandal, "I'm sitting right here, you can't possibly be calm."
Harauk looked outraged at Jim, clearly recognizing the flirting. Jim caught sight of the betrayed-looking Vulcan and gave a sheepish shrug.
The corner of Spock's mouth tilted upwards for a fraction of a second, so fast and small a movement that a normal human wouldn't have noticed, but Jim saw the not-smirk of Spock also understanding what the human was trying to imply.
Healer Senva, with a noticeable green flush in his ears and cheeks stepped up to the biobed, at this point just wanting to complete the examination so that he may leave. "I will begin your examination now." Efficiently, Senva pulled up the readings from the biobed. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine."
"Fine has variable definitions," Spock intoned.
"You suffered severe malnutrition. An IV has been implemented for the duration of your unconsciousness, and your vitals are now at more regular levels. Are you hungry?"
"No," Jim answered, grimacing at the thought.
"I was informed that you spent more time than permissible outside, and thus suffered the force of the nearby sun directly. However, you have not sustained amounts of damage that could not be healed, and have fully recovered since."
"Okay, so basically I'm right as rain?"
"I was not aware that rain had a rightness, nor what thi-"
"Forget it."
"As a Vulcan I have an eidetic memory, and cannot, as you say, forget it."
"Jim is utilizing human colloquium," Spock explained.
"Ah," Healer Senva made a small noise of understanding. "Very well then. To conclude, you suffer psionic damage in acting as an anchor for the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh (who receive all knowledge), it is a statistical anomaly that you did not go insane, or perish. We have monitored you closely, and as of yet, have not found the reason for this."
"O-kaayyy? So I'm all good, Doc?"
Jim received an odd look, but he must have been clear enough because he received a blank "Yes." Vulcans didn't really do casual nods of the head- that's what Jim had summarized, anyway."You are cleared to leave the medical facility."
"Woah really? Harauk, you guys must be like, the most overprotective Vulcan's ever, because I expected to have to fight to get out of here."
"On the contrary, I am merely allowing you to leave because I know that you shall be well looked after. In fact, I am quite sure that you will receive more attentive care outside of the facility than within," Healer Senva said, a smug Vulcan non-expression gracing his features.
"What."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I think I'm beginning to get what Healer Senva was talking about.""And what was Healer Senva 'talking about' that you now understand?" Sklar queried, looking up from the PADD that had previously been the center of his attention."He said that I would be mother-henned even more outside of the medbay than I would within." And before any of the twelve surrounding Vulcans could matter-of-factly inform the illogical human that Healer Senva most definitely would say no such thing, the illogical human continued on, "And that's because you all wouldn't dare clutter the medbay with more than three or so at a time- that would be impracticable and useless. But if I'm outside of the medbay? Well, better get a room that can fit all of us for the duration of my stay so you can ALL WATCH ME EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY."Jim rarely raised his voice. The Vulcans exchanged glances, finally looking to Lerius to settle the human. "Now, Jim," she said, pacifying, "You realize we are only looking out for your best interests? You should not be attempting to acquaint yourself with the Vulcans onboard, in any case. We arrive at Vulcan in approximately 13.4 hours, and you should rest before our landing.""Okay." Jim took a deep breath, calming himself. "I get you guys want to look out for me. We're going to your home planet, and you're trying to do what's best for me, I get that, I do. But I really want to look around the ship--preferably without twelve Vulcans following me, thanks, but no thanks. And I don't really get the whole thing with not talking to other Vulcans. Do you think they're gonna hang me cause my ears aren't pointy, or what? I've done well enough with you haven't I?"Selar, the mind of calculations, and the voice of logic among the logical, voiced his thoughts. Bless the Vulcan, Jim thought. "You are, of course, free to explore the ship. Despite what you will be led to believe. I am quite sure Torin would bodily stop you from leaving these quarters, but the reality is, is that this ship is quite safe. Captain Syvak is reliable, and would not be Captain otherwise. Go, I say no harm will befall of you aboard this ship." He paused for a moment, taking in the not-expressions of outrage on his companions' faces before continuing, in a slightly darker tone, "However. Do remember that each being aboard this ship is Vulcan. Each has strength at least two times stronger than your own. Despite our race's adherence to logic…. Everyone on this ship also has ulterior motives regarding you specifically.""Uh. Well…. okay. Not sure I agree with the whole ulterior motive thing, but what do I know, eh? Brainless human. Yeah, anyways, I guess I'll be going exploring now!" With a lopsided grin, Jim stood, ready to make some new friends, hopefully among the engineers.Solar stood too, "Would you enjoy company? Perhaps I could aid in your 'exploration'?""Nah. Thanks for the offer, but if you come, everyone is going to want to come, and Selar's awesome argument would be all for nothing."The doors swished closed, the last sight being the human's brilliant blue eyes peering back at them in excitement as he walked backwards. Solar sat back down. He would have shrugged to convey 'I tried,' but Vulcans do not generally do something as demeaning as 'shrugging.' The others knew his thoughts in any case._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________"Really?!" The shriek of excitement caused Captain Syvak, Ambassador Sarek, and Spock to stop, silently agreeing to investigate the source of the disruption in the otherwise efficiently working engineering department. The shriek could have only come from one being on the ship, and they were curious as to how the human had escaped the grasps of the protective ik poprah ek' fai-tukh. "Captain Syvak is getting a Suurok-class ship when we go planetside!?""Vulcans do not lie.""I wasn't questioning if you were telling the truth, I just, man" Jim blew out a long whistle, "The Suurok class science variant alone goes, like, Warp 6.5. And the combat variant? I'd wager that goes to Warp 7. It is one fine machine."Finally, they reached Jim, and the Vulcan engineer he seemed to have enticed into conversation. "Perhaps you would enjoy a tour when it is under my command?" The unusually smooth tones brought Kirk reeling around to face them, face blushing an appealing pink. The Vulcan engineer, upon seeing his acting Captain hurried off.No, James T. Kirk did not choke a bit on the air. "I-I, um… I""Yes?" asked Syvak, tilting his head slightly, waiting for the sputtering human to regain his ability to articulate."Yeah," he offered, breathily. "Could I look at some of the tech?" he asked eagerly, eyes shining."Hmm. I suppose that could be arranged. You are already aware of many things an outsider would not be privy to. I doubt you shall be leaving Vulcan's grasp any time soon."The human was nearly hyperventilating now, excitement at the idea of seeing classified technology clouding his mind, causing him to not hear the Captain's words. "Thank you thank you thank you!! You're my most favouritest Vulcan ever."And that was the scene of impassioned declarations which Selar walked in on. "Captain, Ambassador, Spock," he nodded his head to each respectively, "I see you are becoming better acquainted with Jim?""Indeed," said the Captain, with the smuggest non-expression a Vulcan has ever worn."I begin to rethink the decision of allowing you to…. talk… with--""Seeelllar," Selar's nose twitched slightly at the way the human drew out his name, "Lighten up! The most awesome Captain Syvak is going to let me look at the fancy tech on his new and undoubtedly totally amazing ship!" Not receiving any response in the space he left to receive one, he decided to just continue talking. "I'm just hanging out with the good Captain, the Ambassador, and Spock, there can't be anything wrong with that. They're all respectable Vulcans, right?" Jim wheedled, not wanting to screw up his first chance of freedom. Besides, he liked these Vulcans! The three of them all sounded like they took special voice classes. Their voices were much less monotonous than his twelve Vulcan's voices. He wondered why. Maybe it was something that developed with age or something? Whatever it was, it was fantastic. Like warm molten honey. Dark honey. Like they would start purring any moment, Jim felt a shiver run through him."Jim.""Huh?" Jim startled."Have you listened to anything I have thus far told you?""Er- how long have you been talking for?"Selar gave a not-sigh. "I was informing you that while your present company is indeed respectable, Captain Syvak is currently without a bond mate. As is Spock. Furthermore, Ambassador Sarek is father of Spock, and therefore also undoubtedly involved.""Involved …. in what?" The Vulcans all shared shifty looks, resulting in a noisy sound of exasperation. "Fine, fine. Be sneaky little sneaks the lot of you! We've got… I don’t know how many hours until we land, I bet you all do, sneaky timers and clocks" he muttered "But I'm gonna go sleep for however many more decimals places of hours until we do land. And Selar, if any of you sneaky ik poprah ek' fai-tukh are watching me when I wake up, I'm going to scream. Capiche?"Determinedly the human stalked away, and superior Vulcan hearing picked up the muttered words of "Creepy possessive little timers and clocks."Sarek turned to Selar "I am under the impression that the pudor-tor veh is under the influence of some sort of behavior-altering substance.""Quite right, Ambassador, a pain-relief hypo was administered by Healer Senva, and he was meant to sleep it off. However, he quite loudly expressed a desire to 'explore'. I did not expect him to get far, in fact, I rather expected him to fall asleep on his way out the door. He should be in almost optimal shape upon landing now. And," Selar said, with a vindictive edge, "he shall hardly remember his little outbursts since the time the hypo was administered, nor any… promises made by you, or any declarations," with that, he turned on heel to follow his human, lest he fall asleep in a random corner somewhere.Spock turned to the Captain. "It seems you have just lost any advantage of favor.""I will regain it," said Syvak, confidently, "I am, after all, his favorite Vulcan.""We shall see," intoned Sarek. "There are many Vulcans he will know that he has not yet met, and some, such as my own son, that he is merely not well acquainted with yet. Any would be honored to have such a bright mind to be their bonded. And with the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh clearly in competition as well… thy who bonds with him will undoubtedly be the best our race has to offer."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Selar did not blink as he sat and stared at Jim, unmoved by the startled intake of air Jim had taken upon wakening and finding the young Vulcan staring at him. Jim blinked. Many times, and very rapidly. No matter how many times he had woken to see one of his young Vulcans simply staring at him sleep, it would always be unnerving.
"Hi," Jim mumbled, not trying to sit up just yet.
"Tonk'peh," Selar returned evenly, allowing the corner of his mouth to twitch up ever so slightly in a visible show of his pleasure. Jim had not screamed upon awakening as he had threatened, which meant that Harauk had indeed been correct, and Jim would not recollect anything that had occurred while under the influence of his pain medications. Selar was still unsure as to how Captain Syvak had gained any of Jim's favor, but he would assure that it did not occur again.
"You smiled" Jim accused, childishly pointing his finger at Selar's face.
"A grave accusation," Lerius admonished teasingly from her position seated in the corner of the room -the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh committed to not allowing even one of themselves alone with Jim.
"Vulcans do not smile" Selar countered, not even bothering to entirely smooth his face out into one of standard cold indifference.
"B-but" Jim spluttered, "Your still doing it! Right now! I can see you doin-" He stopped himself, cocking his head to the side, looking as if he is listening to something. "Are we… are we moving right now?"
"Yes, we are currently spinning at a speed of-"
"Spinning" Jim repeats, cutting Selar off, "We're planet side, then?"
"Indeed" Selar affirmed. At this Jim threw the covers off of himself, getting up and looking for some clothes to change into.
"I can't wait to show you guys some really cool places" Jim called from where he was rummaging around in the drawer, finally find a shirt to his liking - a blue one that would match his eyes- and turning around, holding it up for his companions' approval.
"Show us?" Lerius inquired curiously.
"Uhuh. I dunno exactly where we are docked, but there is cool stuff all over Earth that you guys'd like to see…" Jim trailed off, Lerius and Selar had exchanged a look between them, and Jim had a feeling he was about to find out why. "What?" he asked, prompting them.
"We are not on Earth, Jim" Selar said cautiously.
"Oh." Jim deflated a little bit, "You guys are just dropping me off on the moon base or something then?"
"No" Selar denied. "We are currently on Vulcan."
Jim's eyes widened in his shock. He had not considered the possibility that he would have been taken. He actually kind of figured that the Vulcan higher ups would demand he be gotten rid of as soon as possible. "Cool," he remarked, whipping the night shirt he had been wearing off, and pulling the new one on, turning to look for some pants. "I guess that means you guys will be showing me around? Hey- where am I supposed to stay on Vulcan? Or do I just come back to stay in these quarters until I'm shipped off to Earth?"
"It…. It has not yet been decided where you will stay, if you will be in one residence permanently at all. There are many who wish to house you, Jim." The human shimmied his hips as he tried to peel off the tight khaki's he had just pulled on- he was going to try on that black pair of jeans he saw a second ago after all. Selar and Lerius watched Jim enraptured all the while, wishing to offer to help him out of the tight clothing, yet not daring to do so in the other's presence.
"People wanna house me? Who does?" He looked in the mirror at himself, turning this way and that, the black jeans looked pretty good, he thought. He wondered who replicated the clothes in the room, they all seemed just on the side of too tight.
"The twelve of us that were on Tarsus, we all have our own homes we would be honored to invite you into" Lerius intoned earnestly.
"Yeah? Anyone else?" If Jim were socks… where would he hide? The small drawer on the nightstand looked suspect.
"The Captain of this vessel has indicated his willingness" Selar admitted grudgingly.
"As have those of the House T'Pau" Lerius included, shooting Selar a look for 'forgetting' to relay the offer.
"The House of T'Pau?!" Jim said excitably, "Who do I know from that house?"
"Sarek son of Skon and Spock son of Sarek" Lerius answered for Selar when he failed to respond.
"Wow" Jim said, pulling on the newly discovered socks and wiggling his toes around. The socks were black and pretty soft- he liked them, he just wished that they hadn't been so hard to find. Who the hell keeps socks in a closet?? He pulled over the boots he had also grabbed from the closet, deftly lacing them up before standing straight. "So. What now? Where's everyone at?"
"We docked approximately 7.54 minutes ago. No one has left the ship as of yet" Selar informed the human already moving towards the room's door "Where do you intend to depart to?"
"I'm gonna find myself some timers and clocks that are more accurate than you, 7.54" Jim threw over his shoulder before bouncing out of the room.
"Most illogical."
"Indeed." Nevertheless, they stood to follow their human.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Spock! Hey Spock!"
"Jim" Spock said, stopping in the middle of the hallway and turning to face the blonde human advancing towards him "I find it pleasurable to meet you again."
"Yeah" Jim waved his hand flippantly, coming to stop a few feet away, "I'm a pleasurable guy to meet" he grinned lopsidedly.
They stood there for a few moments, Jim wearing a smile that Spock considered quite enchanting, and Spock enjoying merely being in Jim's presence soaking up his image and attempting to memorize every detail of his person while waiting to see if Jim would actually say anything to him.
"Jim."
Both beings turned towards the voice and now audible footsteps, Selar had finally located Jim.
"Hey!" Jim said brightly, turning back to Spock. "How long ago did we land? Can you do more than two decimal places?" He questioned eagerly.
The corner of Spock's mouth lifted in amusement. We docked approximately "12.345276 minutes ago," he solemnly informed the human.
"Ha!" Jim called, turning to Selar who had now drawn level with them "I've found myself a Vulcan that's not broken!"
"I am not broken, as you say" Selar said indignantly, shooting Spock a look of thinly concealed not-irritation.
"Mmn, if you say so" Jim hummed in a disbelieving manner "But Spock is verrrrryyy accurate you know. I'm gonna keep 'im."
"You cannot, Jim" Selar denied.
"I can too."
"Perhaps as a compromise, I could keep you" Spock suggested slyly.
If looks could kill, Spock would be a dead Vulcan, because the glare that Selar was unsubtly shooting at Spock was beyond incensed.
Jim ignored that as he deliberately hooded his eyes and looked up at Spock from underneath his lashes coquettishly "Why Spock, at least take me to dinner first."
"I will gladly" Spock agreed, also ignoring Selar's not-death-glare, and taking one smooth step closer to Jim so that they were nearly flush, and causing pink to rise in the human's cheeks from their close proximity.
Jim inhaled deeply. He like Spock. He liked Spock a lot. He smelled divine, and looked even more divine. Some people said that all Vulcans looked like carbon copies of each other, but Jim had always been able to see the fine distinctions between individuals of the race. And Jim thought that Spock was one of the best looking Vulcan's he had ever seen. Lean muscles, thin waist, broad shoulders, dark deep eyes, beautiful pale green skin, pointed ears that made him want to just-" Had Selar just _shoved_ Spock?! "Selar! What the heck!"
Selar turned his back on Spock from where he had just shoved him away from _his_ human in order to address aforementioned human. "Yes, Jim?" He enquired, the picture of calm (read: fury) personified.
Spock straightened his shirt- even though it had not been wrinkled from being shoved away from the enticing human that had looked positively drunk on his proximity. He was surprised, to say the least, that the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh had resorted to physical violence in Jim's presence. He would have to be more cautious with his advances, lest he face an early burial.
"You just shoved Spock!" Jim spluttered, confused at what would bring Selar to do such a thing.
"I did" Selar confirmed, raising an eyebrow.
"And you don't see anything wrong with that??" Jim asked, trying and failing to raise an eyebrow of his own, and resigning himself to just crossing his arms over his chest instead.
"No" Selar intoned, unrepentant.
"You can't just… You can't just _do_ stuff like that though!"
"He is a half-breed and I am ik poprah ek' fai-tukh. He was no doubt having lecherous thoughts about your purpose. I was well within my rights."
Jim stumbled back from Selar. "I-I don't recognize you…"
"It is likely that you have never seen Vulcans… participating in the… rite… we are currently having. Such hostility is quite common during such a rite" Spock informed helpfully.
"You're not acting like a total ass" Jim pointed out, "and what 'rite' is this that we're talking about?"
"I had taken it into consideration that you would not approve of such open hostility, so I have decided to refrain from such, but it would have been quite natural if I had been as hostile as Selar has been" Spock said with a smug look at Selar who seemed to be realizing that he had screwed up in some way.
"Well you were right Spock. I don't appreciate the hostility" Jim said, shooting Selar a glance.
Selar swallowed almost imperceptible and straightened his back. He thought back on where he went wrong. Open hostility…. Jim would not condone open hostility during the courting rites. He could not utilize the fact that he was superior to Spock to outright dismiss him as an opponent. It would be difficult to take Spock out of the running if he could not resort to outright hostility. What to do. "I apologize," he intoned flatly, using his eyes to make clear to Spock that he would much rather challenge him to battle, ground his bones to dust, and then use that dust to make a decorative sand garden to gift to his intended.
"That is quite alright" Spock said. The half-breed had likely never received an apology for being called what he is, and certainly not from someone as high in rank as Selar was.
"C'mon Spock, that's it? You're just gonna accept his apology? He called you a half-breed, I mean, I don't know about you, but I feel like that was pretty out of hand"
"Well if you insist that I request retribution…" Spock turned to address Selar directly "I request that you not challenge the possibility that Jim reside in my home, at least for some duration" he not-smiled, pleased with the idea.
Selar not-gritted his teeth in frustration. He had intended to challenge Sarek and Spock's offer to house Jim, fully intending to have Jim stay with him in his home. "Of course" he says, instead of saying "Na' t'nash-veh zek du dungi nam-tor pustau heh laid na' t'nash-veh ash'ya" (At mine order you will be killed and laid at mine foot) like he really wants to.
"O-kay-kay" Jim broke into the silence that had reigned for the past few minutes, "Should we go see if it's time to beam down now?"
"That is a logical idea" Spock agreed, offering his arm like some gallant gentlemen, bold now that he had the upper hand against Selar. Jim giggled, slipping his arm through the crook of Spock's arm.
"Yes" Selar replied frigidly, still perturbed by his apparent loss to the half-breed. How could he be bested when he had know Jim for so much longer? He had been overly confident, assured of his victory. He needed to be better. He needed to win. He trailed after Spock and the animatedly talking human as they made their way to the transporter room. He would win.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Spock”, Sarek greeted, eyebrows arching in a look of mild surprise at the way his son was escorting the pudor-tor veh.
“Father” Spock returned with a dip of his head.
“Hi!” Jim chirped, not wanting to left out.
Sarek inclined his head in acknowledgement as he moved to walk alongside the pair. “Greetings… would now be an adequate time, Spock?” Sarek asked, not giving any hint about as to what he was alluding to.
“Now is indeed a satisfactory time in which to impart our query” Spock agreed.
“Very well.” Turning to Jim, Sarek made his request, “Would you do our clan's house the honor of residing with us for the duration of your stay on Vulcan?”
“I mean, I wouldn’t wanna impose on you guys and-”
“Nonsense,” Sarek waved away the weak excuse, with a negligent movement of his hand, “We would be gratified if you would stay with us.”
“Well.. I dunno how long I’m staying on Vulcan for, I imagine that I’ll be shipped off to Earth soon, and I bet that some of my little Vulcans are going to want me to stay with them- at least for a little while.”
“Ship you off??” Sarek asked, “For what reason do you expect that you shall be “shipped off as you say?”
“I mean, no way that you guys aren’t gonna get rid of me soon as possible, I figure, am I right?” Jim gave a little laugh, though his smile died a little once it became abundantly clear that the other two Vulcans were not as amused as he was.
“I am not sure as to where such an idea came from, but I can assure you that no Vulcan has any intention of ‘shipping you off’, in fact, should you decide to leave I would believe that it would be assured that you either quickly changed your mind or else merely found yourself incapable of leaving.”
“I guess. Vulcan must be a nice place then.” Jim, of course, assumed that when Sarek referred to Jim changing his mind, that the cause must be due to the pleasantness of the planet- no thoughts of deliberate manipulations or anything so underhanded coming to mind.
“I” Sarek began, ready to disabuse the human of the notion that he would merely not want to leave Vulcan because it was a very enjoyable planet to reside on before being cut off abruptly by Spock.
“Of course Jim. I assure you, you shall find your stay so pleasurable, that you shall never leave,” he assured the human, a glint in his eye as he chose not to mention that Jim would actually probably not be allowed to leave, the Vulcan people much too invested in him as an individual to ever allow it. But Spock would not want to scare the human off. He would never make such a foolish mistake. Jim was such an emotional human. He would likely take it badly to think that he was being forced to stay on planet- even if he most assuredly was.
Jim smiled. It was sweet of Spock and his father to invite him into their home. “I promise that I’ll try to stay with you then, if it really isn’t a bother.”
“You are no bother, Jim” Sarek quickly assured. If he was not married to Amanda- she who would surely not understand the rite- he would be participating in the rite himself, married or not, but since he was married to a human, he would merely have to settle for doing his best to help his progeny succeed in the honored endeavor and ensure Spock's success. Sarek was first and foremost a diplomat- it was his business to convince others people to do what he wanted. To convince Jim to choose his son should be a laughably easy task compared to arguing with Tellarites about dilithium.
They had reached the hallway outside of the transporter room, and no sooner than they stopped, the sounds of people walking in evenly measured paces emanated from the doorway. First entered Captain Syvak, and then the 12 ik poprah ek' fai-tukh, following behind. Syvakk and the rest viewed how Jim was tucked close to Spock side with cold dispassionate eyes. Selar had informed them all that Jim did not appreciate open hostility during courting. Torin reminded himself of this to forcibly refrain from ripping Spock limb from limb. That would have to wait, at the very least, until Jim was no longer in his presence.
“Well” Syvak said, breaking the silence, but not the tension within the room. “How have you been, Jim.”
“Huh?” “Oh, uhm, I’m doing good, uh, I mean well. I’m doing well, thank you for asking…. And how about you? That is, how are you doing?”
“I, too, find that I am doing well, especially now that I find myself within your presence.” Syvak gave a not-smile as he was daringly not-flirtatious with the young human. He was a Captain, and he had it on good authority that young humans felt a certain amount of attraction to people with such power. Not that the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh did not have such standing and power, or that even Spock didn’t, but… he would just have to use what he had to his advantage.
“It is time to depart” Lorian announced abruptly, preventing Jim from responding to the Captains flirtations.
"Indeed," Syvak conceded. There was no need to aggravate the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh unduly, he did want to live past this month after all. It seemed, however, that Spock had no such reservations, challenging the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh left and right-- well, if he wanted to run towards an early death, it merely meant one less competitor in the race that would go down in Vulcan history.
Entering the transporter room, the group began to beam down planet side, a fight almost erupting as the Vulcan's definitely did not glare at each other as they also definitely did not jostle each other (using sharply pointed elbows to their advantage) in order to stand near Jim on the pad.
_________________________________________________________
"Soooo…" Jim gazed around the room they had beamed into, taking in the windows boasting a view of the red hot city Shikar, "Vulcan… I like it."
"Indeed?" Spock quirked his eyebrow, "By what logic have you so quickly come to this conclusion?"
Jim turned to Spock, eyes sparkling, with mischievousness or merely just excitement, Spock could not tell, but they were… enticing, to say the least. "Well, Mr. Spock, this is the planet where my most favorite people come from, how could I not like it?"
Spock's eyes darkened noticeably as he replied, "Your answer is, surprisingly, quite logical."
"Why thank you Mr. Spock, what a compliment. Calling the human logical, ha!" Jim turned to the doors of the transporter room now that everyone had been beamed down,
"Let's go visit ourselves a desert."
"Jim!" Harauk called. Opening the door, Jim took one step outside and crumpled, beginning to breath heavily.
"Oh my god" he gasped out from the floor.
Rushing forward Spock carefully placed his arms under Jim's careful to avoid skin to skin contact, before lifting him and pulling him back inside the transporter room.
"Vulcan has a higher gravity, a thinner atmosphere, and higher temperatures than you are used to, Jim," Harauk lectured.
"I see that" Jim rasped, his voice causing the Vulcans in the room to grit their teeth, "and I change my mind, I don't like Vulcan so much, but don't worry, I still like all of you guys, s'not your fault your planet sucks after all."
Syvak returned with a healer armed with hypo sprays in that moment, ready to stab the feeble human so he could survive (at least that's how Jim narrated the situation).
"I am called Skefyk" the healer introduced himself, earning the annoyance of ever other Vulcan in the room who realized with the unnecessary introduction that yet another Vulcan who intended to vie for Jim had managed to introduced themselves to him.
"Uh, hi healer Skefyk, thanks for, you know coming to help me out."
"Of course" Skefyk purred (or he nearly did in any case) "May I?" he gestured, referring to hold Jim steady so he could inject the hypo.
"Sure."
"No." Sorel snapped, "You will not touch his bare skin. Put on a glove, if you must."
Skefyk said nothing, only obligingly pulling on a pair of gloves before soothingly smoothing his hands over Jims neck and shoulder before gripping his skin lightly and administering the hypo.
The occupants of the room said nothing, but everyone bar Jim wanted to strangle him with their bare hands.
"Wow" Jim took in a deep refreshing breath, no long feeling as if an anvil was on his chest as he sat inside of a furnace breathing through a straw, "That feels much better, thank you."
"Yes" Harauk's eye twitched slightly, "Thank you so much…. now shall we?" Nodding in agreement, everyone began to file out of the room, Torin nerve pinching Skefyk once Jim had exited.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I-" Jim looked around, surveying the Vulcans as they came to a stop by the hover cars they were going to take to their respective residences, "Where did healer Skefyk go? I wanted to thank him again." "Thanks are illogical" Nesheh stated. "Yeah, okay, that doesn't mean that I don't want t-." "And unnecessary" 'Lona added. "And in any case, Skefyk is not present" Zebed concluded, his eyes clearly betraying that he was glad for that fact. "Right, I guess, whatever. Will someone pass on my regards, or whatever's logical?"
The Vulcans exchanged shifty looks, none of them wanting to lie to the human and promise to pass on his regards when they had no intention of doing any such thing. Luckily, the human did not expect an actual verbal response, taking the situation at face value that someone would talk to Skefyk at some point, and, having an eidetic memory, would pass on his thanks, illogical or not.
"So I guess I'm going with Spock and Ambassador Sarek, then?" Jim asked, oblivious to the not-death glares being sent towards the two members of The House of T'Pau.
"…Yes" Selar conceded, his eyes narrowing imperceptibly at his rival. As none of the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh had 'reprimanded' Selar for what they considered a righteous action against Spock, they knew that any objections on their part were deemed obsolete. Syvak, himself, was content to avoid challenging Spock just yet, biding his time in what may end up to be a lasting war between the most prestigious clans of the Vulcan society.
____________________
"Ah. Thanks" Jim said with a bit of start, noting how Spock had opened the door of the awaiting hover car for him.
"Jim" Torin called.
"Yeah?"
Torin's jaw clenched minutely, his eyes burning with unspoken words. He replied merely, "Do not forget us, your ik poprah ek' fai-tukh."
Jim smiled radiantly, nearly making all of the surrounding Vulcan courters melt at the attractive sight. " 'Course not Torin, I could never."
"In any case", Nesheh began, "We shall not let Jim forget us and shall be seeing him very soon."
Jim stepped forwards as Harauk demandingly opened his arms, giving each of the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh a tight hug, having to forcibly pull himself away from some of their embraces. The members of the House of T'Pau looked on, perturbed at the sight of Jim's casual contact with so many of his suitors, and in public no less. The ik poprah ek' fai-tukh really were quite intent on having Jim for one of their own. While each of the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh where vying to have Jim for themselves alone, it seems they had also determined that Jim at least be bonded to one of their group if not themselves specifically. This would make attempts for outsiders to court Jim more difficult by tenfold-- Spock included.
Once Jim had hugged each of the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh, he slid into the open door of the hover car, Spock following after. None of the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh stopped him, only glaring silent threats at Spock as he slid in after the human. Spock did not dare to smirk as he wished to, knowing he was walking a thin line as it was. Instead he merely held up the ta'al in farewell. ________________________________________ "Wow," Jim commented, looking upon the Schn T'gai residence, all clean sweeping lines of grandeur as befitting the home of the descendents of the great T'Pau. "Your place is pretty nice" Jim chuckled lightly, opening his door to the hover car and exiting before Spock had the chance to get out and rush around the hover car in order to open it for him.
"I thank you, Jim. It is our hope that you will enjoy your stay and wish to remain here for the duration of your time upon Vulcan," Spock intoned, pulling out the medium sized luggage from the trunk that held his father's personal belongings.
"I mean, so long as it isn't a burden for you guys to have to house the illogical human or whatever" Jim responded, giving a little lopsided grin.
Spock's eyes melting a bit at the sight, replying, "It shall never be a burden to care for you, Jim. In fact, I believe that you shall find our residence to be more suited towards your human physiology than any other on the planet."
"Oh yeah?" Jim inquired, leaning against the hover car in order to better admire Spock's well-defined muscles as he easily hauled another suitcase from the trunk. "Why's that? 'Cause you're here?"
Before Spock--with the tips of his ears flushed a slightly darker green than his normal color-- had the chance to attempt to flirt in return, the question was answered for him, as his human mother swept out of the house to greet her husband and son. Jim watched in awe as Sarek and the woman exchanged a tender ozh'esta. He turned back to Spock to hiss, "You didn't tell me your mom was human," before turning back to where she was advancing towards him with a warm smile.
"You must be Jim," she stated, hand extended for a handshake.
Jim stared at the hand in surprise, so accustomed to using the Vulcan salute that he was unsure as to what he should do. He looked at Sarek over her shoulder to ask for guidance, receiving an encouraging nod in return to his silent entreaty. Hesitantly, he shook her hand, replying, "Ha" reverting back to Vulcan in his nervousness. It had been quite some time since he had interacted with another human, much less one he actually wanted to make a good impression on.
"And you of course will call me Amanda," she insisted, not at all fazed by his clear uncertainty about the proceedings.
"Amanda" Jim repeated, trying the name out, receiving a smile for his efforts.
"Why don't you come inside with me for something cool to drink, and the boys will bring in the luggage," the newly dubbed Amanda asked.
"Oh, well I mean, I'll help bring the stu-" Jim began.
Only to be cut off by Spock's succinct "Unnecessary."
"You see? They have it all covered, come."
With a few looks back to Spock and Sarek, Jim followed after.
________________________------_
"So," Amanda started, busying herself with filling two glasses with ice water from a pitcher, "You were named pudor-tor veh."
Jim sat up straighter at the speculative way Amanda said this. Maybe she had knowledge about his mysterious title and the connotations of what it meant. He had hardly knew that such a title existed, had never heard of it before in his studies with the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh, although by this point, he did rather suspect that they had in fact purposefully omitted some facets of knowledge about Vulcan and its traditions. "I suppose," Jim agreed slowly. "You wouldn't, uh, happen to know why that's a big deal, would you? Or have gotten to see the mysterious transmission that is apparently about me?"
Amanda gave him an enigmatic smile as answer to his questions. "I'm afraid that I cannot say."
"Liar!" Jim cried, absurdly pointing his finger at the devious lady, "You so totally do know!"
Amanda only gave a light laugh at his accusations. She could already tell that Jim was a remarkable person. She did not even need the recordings of his time on Vulcan that had come with the transmission--the one that had every citizen of Vulcan alike demanding that the human be given pudor-tor veh status-- to know this. The last pudor-tor veh had been a female Vulcan named T'Mor, the only one since Surak's time. So the fact that another had been named now, and a human nonetheless was nothing short of astounding. She fully intended to tell Sarek to pursue him, her husband or not. To win a pudor-tor veh was even more than the chance of a lifetime. There really weren't words -- Vulcan or otherwise, to describe what it meant to one. She knew that Sarek intended to not pursue Jim because he was married to her, and worried that she would not understand the practice. But she did understand it--far more than Sarek probably knew--she intended to encourage Sarek to go after Jim, as every other Vulcan would be doing, bonded or not. Or, every Vulcan male, she should say, is it had been determined that Jim held no interest in the opposite sex. If anyone could bond with the pudor-tor veh, she had to think it was her husband, with his vast experience with humans, and with the experience of being bonded to a human that only he had. While she liked to think that Spock would have a good chance too, she knew in reality that Sarek had much more experience with life in general, and stood a better chance.
"Amanda?" Jim asked, looking at her with his head tilted sidewise.
"Yes Jim?"
"Um. Nothing. You just looked… very far away, I suppose."
"I do suppose I was," she smiled brightly, "I am just so glad that you are here with us."
"O-oh" Jim stammered, his cheeks flushing lightly at the compliment, "Well, I'm glad to be here with you guys," he looked up and smiled happily at the newly entered Sarek and Spock.
Spock returning the sentiment with his warm human eyes and Sarek quickly averting his eyes. 'That would need to be remedied soon', Amanda thought to herself. Sarek or Spock would win and she would accept nothing less. Her human cunning would be put to use in securing the pudor-tor veh for one of her household if she had anything to say about it.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“This will be your room, Jim,” Spock intoned as he gestured to the newly revealed room. “Wow,” Jim said as he looked around the room with wonder and awe in his eyes as Spock in turn looked at him. Spock tilted his head slightly in inquiry. “The room is to your liking, then?” Jim turned quickly to face Spock who was still in close proximity since following Jim into the room. “Oh—yes! You know, I and the ik poprah ek' fai-tukh were living in tents for quite some time, and before that… well, I’m very happy to be staying in a place as welcoming as your home is.” “Of course, Jim. I do know that if my mother has her way, you shall be staying here for a long time to come.” A slow smile crept up the blonde’s face. “And you Spock?” he asked cheekily. Spock considered this somewhat unclear question for a moment before responding. “You are asking if, should I have my way, would you be staying here for a very long time?” Jim bit his bottom lip coyly, causing Spock’s gaze to dart towards the movement before rapidly returning their perusal of Jim’s bright and mischievous eyes. “Got it in one.” Alone with the human that Spock had every intention of claiming for his own, Spock allowed the corner of his mouth to turn upwards with the slightest hint of a smirk and didn’t hesitate in responding in the affirmative. “Yes.” Jim’s eyes widened in delight and his smile grew even wider and brighter as he regarded Spock’s facial expression. “Yes?” Spock stepped in closer until it was necessary that he tilt his head the slightest bit down and Jim to tilt his the slightest bit up in order for them to maintain eye contact. He deliberately moistened his lips before continuing. “If it were up to me … you would never leave my side.” Jim’s cheeks rapidly flushed pink in response, unsure how to reply to Spock’s serious and intense answer to his somewhat whimsical question. “R-right, well uh, I’m sure you wouldn’t want me by your side when you’re in the bathroom ha-ha…” Jim laughed a bit nervously, attempting to return some levity to the very heated situation he seemed to have unwittingly created.“On the contrary, I do believe that I would rather… enjoy… accompanying you in the bathroom. Perhaps in the shower. ” Spock’s stare hardened as he took in Jim’s reactions to his words while also mentally calling up an image of what such a scenario might encapsulate.Jim’s reaction to his rather salacious suggestion was to slowly turn an even more vibrant pink, something of his own hardening, though not his stare. “Right. I mean. Shit. What?” He couldn’t think straight, for which he blamed the fact that not enough blood was going to his head… or at least not the head that would let him get through this conversation without ultimately fucking it up. “Spock…” “Yes, Jim?” “You’re. Are you. Uh. Propositioning me?” It seemed so implausible that the Vulcan would be interested in Jim for all their teasing. “What happened to the whole take me to dinner first thing?” “You said nothing about taking you to dinner before propositioning. As I recall it, I am to take you out to dinner before I can keep you. Which I still intend to do.” Jim’s mind was whirring like a 20th-century laptop with too many tabs open. “So,” he began cautiously, “you are propositioning me?” Spock hadn’t said ‘no,’ after all. Jim just found the idea kind of hard to believe. Had he actually died on Tarsus and now he was in heaven? What an absolutely epic afterlife. “I suppose.” “You suppose?!” What does that even mean? What a fucking unclear answer. “What does ‘propositioning’ include. I admit I am somewhat unsure.” “Are you asking to have sex with me?” Jim would forever deny his voice cracked on the word ‘sex.’ But come on. Spock was incredibly sexy and he figured this was all some terrible misunderstanding and he was So. Fucking. Nervous. “If intercourse with me is something you desire, then yes.” “R-i-i-ght.” Omg. How does one even reply to such a statement? “Well, I mean, yeah.” “Yes?” “I mean. Like. Now? Or what even… Sorry, I—” Jim stopped babbling as Spock leaned closer and bent down slightly, closing the last remaining distance between them so that Jim could feel Spock's warm breath as he exhaled. Could see the individual hairs of his upswept eyebrows as he tilted his head with his mouth slightly parted. Jim closed his eyes, seeing no more, as a hot hand gently cupped the side of his face while the other pressed against his lower back, pulling him. Impossibly soft lips met Jim’s own, and their mouths moved languidly and smoothly together in the most beautiful and sensual dance ever performed. Spock’s tongue swiped over the seam of Jim’s mouth and he groaned in reaction, letting his mouth fall open laxly to be explored by Spock. Jim didn’t know how long their glorious kiss went on, but Spock probably did, the oh-so-talented timer and clock that he was.